But over the last decade, Savannah’s fashion landscape has been transformed by a variety of major and minor developments.

Last Thursday, Savannah Fashion Week activities included a runway show at the Lucas Theatre. It was a feast for the eyes, with 10 local boutiques displaying their collections and their fashion sense.

I suppose some in the large audience were literally looking for clothes they might purchase, but others probably were probably looking for stores where they would feel at home.

On Friday, Savannah Independent Designers held a slick runway show at Dollhouse Productions in west Savannah.

Yes, Savannah does indeed have a number of working designers who have launched their own clothing lines.

Local fashion designers likely face the same conundrum as other visual artists: Savannah is an inspirational place to create new work, but not such a good place to sell it.

Last week’s fashion shows highlighted separate but complementary trends — the growing sophistication of area boutiques and the rise of a core group of designers.

But that’s only part of the bigger story of fashion in Savannah.

SCAD’s fashion department has attracted top names and has won accolades. The Savannah Arts Academy has proven a training ground for young designers. SAA student Troy Allen even had work in the SID show at Dollhouse.

Designers Marc Jacobs and James Hogan have set up shop here. We have a couple of active modeling agencies.

Fashion’s Night Out has been “on hiatus” by national organizers, but the first two years of the local FNO attracted large crowds.

Fashion photographer and blogger Mangue Banzima (http://www.quistyle.com) had several more photos published last week in a Street Style slideshow at The New York Times.

Now, let me add here a note of caution before would-be entrepreneurs race out and open their own boutiques.

It’s tough to make it as a small business owner, especially if you’re selling products that only a tiny percentage of local residents or visitors will even consider purchasing.

But some boutiques are obviously making a go of it, some even thriving.

So will Savannah become a fashion hotbed?

I don’t know about that, but fashion is now woven into the city’s cultural fabric in ways unimaginable a decade or so ago.

Given the creative and entrepreneurial energy of designers, teachers, boutique owners and other fashion boosters, this looks like a trend that’s still gaining steam.